Frank Perticari

Frank was born in southwest Washington, D.C., on November 17, 1927, and attended St. Dominic's Catholic School until he was 15 years old. At 16, Frank became a jockey and for the next 60 years worked at various thoroughbred race tracks, starting at the Laurel, Pimlico, and Bowie tracks in Maryland. Afterwards, Frank rode thoroughbred horses and was a work-out rider primarily at Aqueduct and Belmont Park in New York and Gulfstream Park in Florida, although Frank occasionally worked at other tracks. Frank’s Catholic faith was deeply important to him and he attended daily Mass every day he could over those long years in the racing world. When tracks would close for the early months of summer, Frank would return home to Washington, D.C., to spend time with family. 

He is survived by three younger brothers and one younger sister: Antonio Perticari of Bethany Beach, DE, Adolph Perticari of Dagsboro, DE, Charles Perticari of College Park, MD, and Catherine Tinsley of Capitol Heights, MD. Also as close to him was his niece, Denise McKinnon, of Durham, NC, whom Frank cherished immensely. Others who were fond of Uncle Frank are nephews Louis Perticari Jr. and Marcus Perticari of Dagsboro, DE, great nieces Toni Marie Perticari of Millsboro, DE, Sara Mitchell of Millsboro, DE, Sommer Perticari of Kentucky, and great nephews Louis Perticari III of Dagsboro, DE, Shawn Lawson of Stem, NC, Brad Lawson of Clayton, NC, Patrick Lawson of Durham, NC, and Tristan Lawson of Whitesboro, NY. 

Other close relatives are Frank's first cousins: Raymond Arduini of Falls Church, Virginia, whom Frank really liked and admired, Raymond’s brother Michael Arduini of Arlington, VA, sister Rose Arduini Oberle and husband Ron Oberle of Sterling Park, VA, and sister Catherine Potts of Sterling Park, VA.

There is one other person who should be mentioned and never forgotten: Laura Droge of Richmond Hill, NY, was an especially close friend of Frank for years when Frank worked and lived at Aqueduct Racetrack. She did things for our brother Frank that no one else has done. She really, truly looked after him -- what a good woman and friend she was. May God bless you, Laura. We do not know how to thank you.

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